Evaluating School Counseling Programs: Needs Assessment for Students

Issue: If you or your child have ever been a victim of bullying then you know how horrible one can feel. There are many emotions and fears associated with bullying, and no one should have to be subjected to it. Bullying can have a lasting effect not only in one’s present life but their future as well. Bullying is very prominent in schools today, and there has been an increase in school shootings, which is the extreme reaction to being bullied. Children need to consider each other’s feelings before they decide to bully or pick on each other.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, in 2016 it was reported that one in five students has been or are being bullied (Bullying Statistics, 2018). Bullying is becoming more and more of an issue having short term and long-term effects to not only the victims and their families, but it can have effects on the bully themselves and the community. In the video, “Bullying: What every adult needs to know”, it discusses bullying and the impact and consequences of bullying to the victims and even the bullies themselves. The video also discusses the importance of parents, the school, and the community involvement to stop and prevent bullying by giving advice and the tools needed to help both the victims and the bullies. In

We learned the importance and how to manage our counseling program using data collection, assessments and reporting tools (AR1.2). Finally, the Accountability System includes results reports, impact over time, and performance standards. Data analysis, program results, and evaluation and improvement are all a focus for this component. This component helps the counselors justify programs of change to assistance student achievement. The ASCA National Model School supports the counselor in the implementation of the comprehensive program.

Accountability: School counselors, should comprehend, have the capability, expertise, and possess the knowledge, abilities, skills, and boldness attitude needed to observe and assess the progressions and outcomes of a school counseling program aligning with the ASCA National Model (ASCA, 2012). School counselors should be able to demonstrate an understanding of what the counseling program needs and create activities that align to the ASCA National Model to meet the needs of their

The purpose of this study is to identify the most prevalent forms of bullying on a high school campus and identify which strategies are most effective to prevent or respond to bullying. The study will also identify the most effective strategies to improve student achievement and attendance for those students who have experienced bullying. Students must feel safe to learn. Students who are bullied have a propensity to avoid the bullies; therefore, they choose not to attend school. Poor attendance often will result in poor grades and even dropping out of school.

The school counselor plays a primary role in the attainment of student achievement, functioning, and development. School counselors employ a comprehensive approach, concentrating on academic development, social/emotional health, and career formulation.

Task 5 links to learning outcome 5, assessment criteria 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3.The Anti-Bullying Alliance

A school counselor’s role is vital in many schools across America. Many students see their counselor, to work on any emotional stressors, academic changes and challenges. This may include, interventions, group therapy and changes in class schedule, but sometimes with all the implementations given, students do not succeed in school. Perhaps one needs to take a closer look at the programs being implemented and its success rate. In addition, a counselor should guide itself using the ASCA (American School Counselor Association) to provide evidence based practices in schools.

Further, although there is considerable research about the assessment competencies school counselors need, there is less evidence to suggest that school counselors actually are using those skills and that the training they receive is sufficient. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY If school counselors are not utilizing assessment tools, plausible explanations might be that they feel inadequately trained, they do not have the time or opportunity, they believe that their role should not include assessment, or they are told by other educational professionals that school counselors should not be engaged in assessment

Bullying among school-aged children is regarded as a widespread problem in the United States and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the problem. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), over one third of students in elementary and middle schools are impacted by bullying (Klein, 2012). Bullying is defined as “unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time” (Klein,2012). Studies show that the consequences of bullying not only include students who are bullied, but the effects extend to those who bully and

School counselors use data to, “identify school counseling program goals; monitor student progress to close the achievement gap; assess and evaluate programs; demonstrate school counseling program effectiveness (Young, 2013).” The purpose of assessments are to identify and plan school counseling programs that align with the mission of schools. School counselors assist students individually to help with academic, personal/social or career concerns. One helps student establish goals as well as develop plans. School counselors conduct informal assessments by interviewing students to obtain information about their current problem or situation.

These would be considered issues because society places different values and beliefs dealing with bullying. This evaluation plan may encounter problems with these issues that can easily be overcome through careful planning. Curiously enough, although it is broadly understood that bullying is essentially an abuse of power, few consider the implications of such a belief. We do not, as a rule, go on to think about how power should be used and what may constitute its wrong use (Unknown,

In schools all over the world today, School Counselors are crucial to assisting students, parents, school administrations, and the community. I believe that creating an effective counseling program that supports the counselors’ role in education will foster a close interaction between students and counselor to achieve success in their personal/social lives, academic achievements, and college readiness careers.

Motivation: As a teenager who is going through life and being exposed to different experiences and situations, I am able to identify with people who have gone through the experience of being bullied and have heard and witnessed many situations of bullying whether it is verbal or physical. I believe that today, especially in our modern day society, we should be aware and educated about bullying such as what causes a person to become a bully? , What characteristics does the bully look for in the victim? What should one do in this situation? We hear all these myths that bullies have no self-esteem or that being bullied builds character and makes you

School bullying and bullying as a whole has become a growing concern. The need for more intervention is more recognized, as incidents of bullying and inappropriate acts towards others occur in places outside of the classroom. This literature takes a closer look at bullying in schools. Olwesus (2013) states “the field of bullying research is to some extent plagued by problems, disagreements, and unresolved issues” (p.752). Whether if anyone will agree on the root of bullying, the fact remains that bullying has to be examined at its very core to remedy the matter before it becomes a bigger concern. There is a dire need for intervention based programs to be set in place to address the fact the act of bullying has lasting effects on the bully and the victim. When intervention programs are put into place to address bullying, the act of bullying decreases due to the gained understanding of the effects.